Tool holder



N. B. MA NESS April 4, 1961 TOOL HOLDER Filed March 3, 1958 INVENTOR. A/oemnNMn/vsss taken'at of Figure 1; 7 Figure is a transverse se r mmed Apr. 4, 1961 TOOL HOLDER Norman B. Maness, 1402 N. Mariposa, Hollywood, Calif.

. Filed Mar. 3, 1958, Ser. No. 718,785

' 1 Claim. 01. 29-80) This invention relates generally to tool holders, and, in particular, to a holder for files in die making. I Large numbers of files, known in the trade as rifile files and needlepoint files, are used in the die making and mold making business. In general, riflle files have an elongated shank, generally of rectangular cross-section, 'with files at each end; Needlepoint files generally have a file at one end with a shank of round cross-section. It has been deemed desirable to provide a single handle for both needlepoint and rifile'files, which will be easily removable, and which will interchangeably hold any of the needlepoint and riflle files used by die makers. The

different shank cross-sections, as well as the factthat I L rifile files have files at both ends, while needlepoint files have files only at one end, have made this a difficult problem. The problem has been complicated further by the elongated nature of these files.

There have been many developments in removable holders for files. However, none has accomplished the multiple purposes and functions of (l) interchangeably holding either needlepoint or rifile files adequately; (2) providing a handle through which the opposed file ends on riflle files may simultaneously protrude so the file may be constantly reversed in use; and (3) provide a holder for seating a ritlle file within the holder in such manner that only one end will protrude from the handle when desired, in order that pressure may be exerted atthe other end of the handle.

I have achieved the foregoing objects and accomplished the desired'results by providing a handle having a longitudinally extending open-sided slot along the entire length of the handle, into whichafile shank may be dropped with one or'both ends thereof projecting beyond the end or ends of the handle. Associated with this handle is a tool-clamping device having tool-holding elementsexthe V-shaped bottom 24 of the slot 22 and thus are cap able of gripping either square, rectangular or round crossthe invention, the bottom of the slotis, substantially V-shaped and the tool-clamping device has two down wardly diverging tool-clamping elements, each 'having a V-shaped'notch at the lower'end whichrnotches engage upper side of the tool shank at spaced-apart points thereon when the clamping device is in tool-holding position.

Fur'ther objects and advantages of this invention will J be more thoroughly understood by reference to the following specification-and attached drawings of a preferred embodiment of my invention, in which:

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the same;

, fopened i g v, p v

- Figure 4 is .a longitudinal section through'the device,

tion at 5 -5 of Figure 2;

Figure '3 is a side elevation with the clamping device Figure 6 is a sectional view through the device, taken at 6-6 in Figure 4. 7

Referring now to the drawings, the present invention will be seen to comprise a handle 20 having a clamping device 30 mounted thereon, which clamping device is adapted to engage and hold a file 10. The handle 20 is an elongated generally cylindrical body having a longitudinally extending, open-sided slot 22 extending its entire length and into which a file 10 is placed. The vertical sides 25 and 26 of the slot are preferably flat and parallel, as will best be seen in Figures 5 and 6, and the bottom 24 of the slot 22 is V-shaped in order'to best accommodate either round or rectangular cross-sectioned file shanks. A hole 28 extends from the outer surface of the handle 20 to the surface 25 of the slot 22, and through this hole a pin 29 is inserted upon which the clampingdevice 30 is mounted. Near the end of the handle opposite from that in which the pin is located there are a plurality of horizontal, vertically-spaced grooves 23. The grooves 23 are adapted to receive a laterally-projecting lip 32 on the clamping device in order to hold it in varying positions relative to the lower portion of the slot 22. The outer surface of the handle 20 is knurled or scarified, as shown at 21, to provide a non-slip surface for easier and more efiective handling. V

The clamping device 30 may take a number of dilferent'forms, but in the preferred embodiment illustrated, it isseen to comprise a relatively flat bar or arm 39 of spring steel, steel or the like, vertically disposed within the slot 22 and closely adjacent the side 25. Projecting laterally from one end of the bar 39 is pivot pin 29 in- ,serted into hole 28. At the other end of the bar 39 Ca lip 32 is bent laterally outwardly and is engageable in one of the grooves 23 to lock the bar in appropriate :tool-clamping position. At the upper edge of said end :of the bar immediately over the lip 32 is a laterally in- :warclly bent lip of finger catch 35 which forms a fingerhold which may be used for engaging and disengaging the lip 32 from the grooves 23.

More or less atthe center of the bar 39 is an-inwardly bent flange portion 35 having downwardly diverging tool clamp elements 33 and 34 which project into the slot 22. 'Ihelower ends of the tool-clamping elements 33 and 34 are formed into downwardly facing V-shaped notches 36 which arepreferably beveled to provide a sharp edge for better bite on the tool shank. The V-shaped notches 36 act against the shank of a file 10 to press the same against section shanks with equal facility. a

Clamping device 30 is formed from one piece of spring steel, pivotally mounted to handle 20 by rivet 29. Finger catch 31, holding lip 32 to engage in a series of grooves 23 in the handle 20, and tool-clamping elements 33- and 34, are formed integrally withother portions of clamping device 30 and are connectedthereto by shoulder 35.

Particular attention is invited to Figure 5 which is a cross-section of the. inventionth'rough the plane 5-5 of Figure 1, and shows the file 10 held in position within the v shaped lower portion 24 of the slot-like cavity '22 within 7 the handle 20. ,The file 10 is held firmly seated within the V-shaped' lower portion of slot 22 by the two spring steel clamping elbows 33 and 34, each'of which has a V- shaped notch in the end which engages'the' file shank,'as j illustrated particularly in Figure 6. I

. In practice, the clamping device'30 is raised tothe position of Figure 3 of the attached drawings when it is desired to insert or remove'a file. A file 10 is placed in the cavity 7'6 22Land the'clamping device 30 is, pressed down upon it."

When pressed-down, the only portions of the clamping device 30"which come into contact with the file 10 are the clamping elements and 34. [When the clamping device 2 T 30 is depressed into the handle 20, the lip 32 acts as a catch and engages one of the grooves 23 within the handle 20. By using different grooves for engaging lip 32, the tension upon the file shank may be varied and various sizes may be accommodated.

The file may be held with only one end protruding from the handle by loosening clamping device 30 and sliding the file one direction or the other through the cavity 22 until one end of the file is totally enclosed Within the handle 20.

The outer surface of the handle 20 is knurled or otherwise shaped or scarified, as shown at 21, to provide a nonslip surface.

In a preferred form, the handle may be made of plastic and the tool-clamping device of spring steel. It is clear that the handle might be formed from wood, aluminum, or other material, and that the clamping device might be made of a number of different materials.

While the embodiment of my invention shown and described is fully capable of accomplishing the results desired, it is clear that a number of modifications and changes, all within the scope and spirit of this invention, will occur to anyone skilled in the art. It is not intended that this invention be limited to the particular embodiment shown or that any limitations be placed upon it by the embodiment shown, except such as are required by the appended claim.

I claim:

A tool holder of the class described comprising: an elongated handle; and longitudinally extending open sided cavity in said handle and extending the entire length of said handle to receive a tool shank; a clamping device pivotally attached to said handle and movable between tool clamping and released positions; a portion on said clamping device projecting toward one side of said cavity to engage said tool shank and clamp the same against said one side of said cavity, said projecting portion on said clamping device adapted to be movable to a non-clamping position disposed substantially entirely outside of said cavity to a position such that said open side of said opensided cavity is completely cleared and said cavity is capable of receiving a tool throughout the entire length of said cavity by way of said open side; said clamping device when in said tool clamping position being substantially entirely disposed within said elongated handle; and means for securing said clamping device in tool-holding position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 610,770 Schnabel Sept. 13, 1898 835,160 Lutz et a1 Nov. 6, 1906 996,195 Bahni June 27, 1911 2,133,546 Kreisler et al. Oct. 18, 1938 2,355,286 Fink Aug. 8, 1944 2,462,284 Rauch Feb. 22, 1949 2,465,132 Surface Mar. 22, 1949v 2,674,286 Carson Apr. 6, 1954 2,719,995 Hohenstein Oct. 11, 1955 FOREIGN PATENTS 6,873 Switzerland May 27, 1893 153,440 Great Britain Nov. 11, 1920 UNITED STATESEPATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATION OF CORRECTION April 4, 1961 o Patent No; 2,977,668

Norman B,-4;,Maness It is hereby certified that error appears in the above numbered patent requiring correction and that the said Letters Paterit should read 'as corrected below.

Column 3, line 29, for "andread a Signed and sealed this 29th day of Augut 1961.

SEA L) Attest:

ERNEST W. SWIDER Attesting Officer DAVID L. LADD Commissioner of Patents 

